Category: Mexico

I wrote in a Final Thoughts a few years ago that it seemed all the swans were black. More recently, I’ve been asked by some of you what the wildcards are for 2025. You could probably make the case that all the cards are wild now.

The amount of steel exiting the country continued to decline through November, falling to an 11-month low, according to the latest US Department of Commerce data. This is the third month in a row that steel exports have eased and the second-lowest monthly rate recorded in almost two years.

This may be the most consequential six months for trade policy in recent memory. The wait to see what form Trump's actions take is almost over.

We are quickly approaching Inauguration Day. The market still has no definitive clue as to how the Trump administration will execute on its threat to apply universal tariffs to all imports. Compounding this are the threats to apply 25% duties against our USMCA partners - Canada and Mexico.

Domestic steel imports fell 14% from October to November to a one-year low of 2.07 million short tons (st), according to final US Commerce Department data. While steel trade has declined from early-2024 highs, November imports are slightly higher than volumes seen one year prior.

Steel fabricators and distributors SPS Companies and State Steel will be merging their service center businesses under the SPS Companies family of firms.

Some world-changing events happen in an instant. Others take many twists and turns. The outcome remains unknowable at every phase. That is, until you finally arrive at the end of the roller coaster, the safety bar lifts up, and you stagger off the ride. It appears such is the case with Japan’s Nippon’s Steel Corp.’s (NSC’s) proposed $14.9-billion buy of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. And the ride ain't over yet.

The Trump administration may be considering alternative tariff plans, but Trump said the report is "Fake News."

I’m not sure what to say about President Biden’s blocking Nippon Steel’s deal for U.S. Steel that hasn’t already been said. I think it’s fair to say, as U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt did, that this was ultimately all about politics and had very little to do with national security. SMU has tried to remain […]

Alkar Steel and Processing supplies hot- and cold-rolled steel, high carbon spring steel, high strength-low alloy steel, coated and stainless steel products throughout the Midwest.

We never eat chicken on New Year’s Day. My Irish-Catholic grandmother thought it was bad luck – because chickens scratch backward. And one should start the year looking forward. But it’s hard to avoid the fact that we’re carrying a lot 2024 issues (and even 2023 ones) forward into 2025. That’s not all bad. We’re starting 2025 with SMU’s hot-rolled coil price at $675/per short ton (st). That’s $370/st lower than $1045/st at the outset of 2023, according to our interactive pricing tool. I think we can safely say that a decline of that magnitude won’t happen in 2025.

Worthington Steel's CEO feels optimistic as the company heads into its second year as a standalone company.

Recovery continues but geopolitical risks remain for 2025

A trustee has formally taken over AHMSA and begun the liquidation process of the bankrupt Mexican steelmaker.

In the last article written for SMU, we looked at the rallies that followed both the 2016 and 2022 presidential elections, as well as the moves in the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index.

Depressed demand and weak prices drove Worthington Steel’s second fiscal quarter results to a sequential decline.

“New commodity-specific tariffs, mainly on steel and aluminum products, could widen price differentials and divert trade flows,” the credit agency forewarned.

In 2024, volatility with a capital “V” has been the rule. That will remain high heading into 2025.

The world has had a few shocks recently. The CEO of a major health insurance company was gunned down in Manhattan. The 50-year Assad dynasty in Syria was pushed out less than two weeks after rebels started an offensive. And President-elect Trump is promising tariffs on everything a month before he takes office. But one shock has been taking place for a lot longer than the last few weeks. The 70-year consensus on trade hasn’t just been challenged. It’s been repudiated.

The volume of steel exported from the country declined in October for the second-consecutive month, following a one-year high in August.

It’s been another week of torrid speculation when it comes Trump and tariffs. And another week of mostly flat price movement when it comes to steel sheet and plate. As far as Trump and tariffs go, I think I might have lost track. We've potentially got 10% blanket tariffs on imports from China, 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, 100% tariffs on the BRICs, and 200% on Caterpillar. Canada might be the 51st state. Mexico could be the 52nd state. But all can be resolved if you stop by Mar-a-Lago and kiss the ring?

With just over a month to go until Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, President-elect Donald Trump has already signaled some of his policy choices that will affect the steel industry.

Monthly imports have remained within a relatively narrow range since June, significantly lower than volumes seen earlier this year, but stronger than late-2023 levels.

Vedoya said the proposed tariffs are "an irrational measure that would harm both their own industry and ours."

Transition to a new administration is always uncertain. This one is more uncertain than most.

A newly adjusted anti-dumping duty on imports of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Argentina is too low, according to U.S. Steel. This past week, the Department of Commerce released the preliminary results of annual AD duty order reviews on OCTG from both Argentina and Mexico. It is reviewing imports during the one-year period that […]

The president-elect has wasted no time in using the threat of tariffs to reopen negotiations and, ideally, score other political wins along the way.

Still, many businesses noted increased sensitivity to prices and quality among customers.

A trustee will lead AHMSA through the liquidation stage of its bankruptcy.

“Trump took to Twitter.” That was a familiar story lead in Trump 1.0. Now it’s “Trump took to Truth Social (or X)." The latest example: President-elect Donald Trump on Monday evening said he was “totally against” U.S. Steel being acquired by Nippon Steel in a post on Truth Social.